Captain Charlie O'Connell led by example and was the catalyst for Taieri's upset win at Kettle Park.
Dunedin took the lead for the first time with 10 minutes left when flanker Gareth Evans grabbed the ball from a lineout inside the Taieri half and the forwards drove toward the line.
First five-eighth Shaan Davis cut through untouched to score under the bar and Dunedin led 22-20.
But O'Connell had played aggressively throughout the game and was not going to meekly surrender.
He rallied the troops and Taieri attacked inside the Dunedin half and first five-eighth Andrew Reid kicked his second penalty goal and Taieri led by a point.
Shortly after, from a Kaikorai clearing kick, O'Connell tapped the ball into the hands of winger Tom Davie, who outpaced the defence to score his second try and make the game secure.
O'Connell was the player of the game with his strong tackling, breaks with the ball in hand and his skill at the breakdown.
He was backed by fellow loose forwards Jeremy Corliss and Nathan Young.
Taieri had a more enterprising backline and was effective on the counter-attack when the ball was kicked back by Dunedin.
Carne Parata was a sniping halfback and centre Ryan Shortland always looked dangerous.
The Dunedin front row of Kelsey Miller, Will Henry and David Smart was dominant and pushed Taieri back in the scrum, while Evans was a lively flanker.
Halfback Fraser Lau was the best Dunedin back with his long passing and skilled kicks over the top and his covering.
Michael Walding was able to breach the advantage line in the midfield and was an effective defender.
Taieri 30 (Tom Davie 2, Ryan Shortland, Kurt Webster tries; Andrew Reid 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals), Dunedin 22 (Louis Tili, Shaan Davis, Will Henry tries; Tili 2 conversions, penalty goal).
Halftime: Taieri 15-10.
Referee: Doug Rodgers.
